Project Mercury

Project Mercury was the United States's first successful manned spaceflight program. It ran from 1959 through 1963 with the goal of putting a man in orbit around the Earth. Early planning and research was carried out by NACA, while the program was officially carried out by the newly created NASA. The name Mercury comes from the Roman god (it is also the name of the innermost planet of the solar system).

Astronauts

The first Americans to venture into space were drawn from a group of 110 military pilots chosen for their flight test experience and because they met certain physical requirements. Seven of those 110 became astronauts in April 1959. Six of the seven flew Mercury missions (Deke Slayton was removed from flight status due to a heart condition). Beginning with Alan Shepard's Freedom 7 flight, the astronauts named their own spacecraft, and all added 7 to the name to acknowledge the teamwork of their fellow astronauts

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Mercury had seven prime astronauts, all former military test pilots, known as the Mercury 7. NASA announced the selection of these astronauts on April 9, 1959.

Related Topics:
Astronaut - Test pilot - Mercury 7 - April 9 - 1959

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• M. Scott Carpenter (1925-)
• L. Gordon Cooper, Jr. (1927-2004)
• John H. Glenn. Jr. (1921-)
  (first American to orbit the earth)
• Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom (1926-1967)
• Walter M. Schirra, Jr. (1923-)
• Alan B. Shepard, Jr. (1923-1998)
  (first American in space)
• Donald K. "Deke" Slayton (1924-1993)
  (grounded in 1962 due to irregular heartbeat, reinstated in 1972 and later flew on Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975)

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